Once again, an experienced North Clayton basketball team is proving to be a very good basketball team.

The 2006-07 Eagles had nine seniors and that season ended with a close loss to Tucker in the Final Four. This year’s club, consisting of eight seniors, is on pace to accomplish just as much, if not more. They have already posted multiple winning streaks of at least seven games in contrast to the 06-07 Eagles,whose best run was six straight.

And head coach Martisse Troup is not surprised. “This is something I expected,” he said. “This is a group that has been in the program a solid four years so I’m expecting a lot out of this senior group as well.”

Troup is referring to Zachary Bradley – who is participating in the dual enrollment program at Clayton State – Antwuan Murphy, Jimmy Williams, Torian Box, Clarence Jackson, Joshua Williams and sophomore Marcus Hunt, the team’s leading scorer at 16 points a game.

The current run of nine in a row at press time included seven convincing wins – one was payback for a December loss to Forest Park – and two overtime victories.

“My seniors have really stepped up,” Troup said. “We’ve been sharing the basketball, playing together as a team and we have to continue to do that to get to where we need to be.”

Consistent starters Jimmy Williams, Hunt, Bradley and Murphy (both have a 3.7 GPA) have been key while Box, Jackson, Joshua Williams and juniors Lexus Hill and Roman Woodburn have contributed off the bench.

Troup also believes there is a formula to the team’s recent success.

“If we play North Clayton basketball – the type of basketball we are supposed to play – the only team that will beat North Clayton is North Clayton,” he said.

Another reason the Eagles are currently first in Region 4-AAAA is their vastly improved free-throw shooting unlike last season.

“That’s what held us back last year,” said Troup, whose team finished with just a 15-11 record. “Out of the 11 games we lost, eight were because of our struggles at the line.”

With that issue out of the way, Troup thinks his team’s greatest challenge is in the mirror.

“Our biggest obstacle is ourselves and being consistent, but if we stick to our one-team, one-goal motto we can be playing for the State Championship on March 12,” he said.

Winning on March 12 would be an outstanding way to punctuate a great season, which has been dedicated to the memory of former teammate and football player Davin Redmond.